Woman Is Charged With Stabbing Child With Needle

Los Angeles police on Thursday said they were looking for at least four other children who could be victims of the same woman who allegedly stabbed a 22-month-old boy in the ear with a hypodermic needle.

Felony charges were filed this week by the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office against Phyllis Marie Johnson, 44, who was arrested Saturday on the 600 block of South Broadway. Authorities have not yet determined the contents of the syringe but said the victim, Daniel Aburto, is in good health.

Daniel and his mother were on a busy sidewalk in the Jewelry District when he began rubbing his ear and crying in her arms.

She saw Johnson walking away and alerted Historic Core Business District security bike officers, who contacted police, said LAPD Det. Dennis Moeller.

Johnson was arrested about a block away. Witnesses at the scene told police they saw Johnson approach at least four other children with an object concealed in her sleeve, touch them on the side of their heads and then walk away, Moeller said. The children began crying after Johnson touched them.

Daniel Aburto was taken to a local hospital and is in “great condition,” said Capt. Jim Rubert.

The syringe and needle taken from Johnson are being analyzed, said LAPD Det. Kelvin Higa. According to the felony complaint filed by the district attorney’s office, Johnson had heroin with her when she was arrested. Higa said it is suspected that heroin was in the needle.

Johnson, who is being held in Twin Towers jail in lieu of $500,000 bail, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of felony child abuse, assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a controlled substance, torture and corporal injury to a child. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 10.

Police said Johnson does not have a history of mental illness and is a resident of downtown Los Angeles.

Higa said police don’t believe the incident is related to a similar one in April in which a 21-year-old man was arrested for allegedly injecting women with a tranquilizing drug in Santa Barbara and Mammoth Lakes.

Parents who believe their children may have been victims of an attack are asked to call LAPD Central Division detectives at (213) 485-2671 during business hours or (213) 405-2504 24 hours a day.